Thailand prepares for 35th ASEAN Summit next month

The ASEAN summit will be held from Nov 2-4 and the cabinet has approved Nov 4-5 as holidays for government offices in Bangkok and Nonthaburi. (Source: Bangkok Post)

The Thai cabinet has approved a two-day holiday for all government offices in Bangkok and Nonthaburi province during the ASEAN summit and related meetings to be held from November 2-4.

Deputy government spokeswoman Traisulee Traisoranakul said the cabinet had endorsed a Foreign Ministry proposal for November 4 and 5 to be extra holidays for state offices in the capital and Nonthaburi as the Impact Muang Thong Thani convention centre will be the venue for the summit of ASEAN leaders and other related meetings.

The two-day holiday, which gives government workers a four-day weekend, will ease traffic congestion  and make it easier for ASEAN leaders and other participants to move to and from the venue, she said.

The decision applies only to government offices. The cabinet left it to state enterprises, banks, private businesses and the Bank of Thailand to make their own decisions on whether to follow suit, she added.

Earlier, the Foreign Ministry said Thailand is ready to host the 35th ASEAN Summit and related meetings from November 2-4.

The event will be attended by leaders from 10 ASEAN member countries and those from China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, India and the United Nations.

About 3,000 officials and reporters are expected to attend and cover the event./.

VNA